Patents by Inventor Motohiro Higuchi

Motohiro Higuchi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10842059
    Abstract: A component supply device that supplies a component stored in a carrier tape to a component mounting apparatus, the component supply device includes a curl corrector that corrects curl of an empty tape which is a carrier tape from which the component is picked up by the component mounting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Kitani, Motohiro Higuchi, Shigeru Matsukawa, Kei Tsunemasa
  • Publication number: 20190200493
    Abstract: A component supply device that supplies a component stored in a carrier tape to a component mounting apparatus, the component supply device includes a curl corrector that corrects curl of an empty tape which is a carrier tape from which the component is picked up by the component mounting apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: MINORU KITANI, MOTOHIRO HIGUCHI, SHIGERU MATSUKAWA, KEI TSUNEMASA
  • Patent number: 9592986
    Abstract: A component supplying apparatus comprises a tape guide surface facing a lower surface of the carrier tape, a preceding tape contact part climbing onto a upper surface of the preceding carrier tape, and a subsequent tape blocking part configured to wait on the upstream side of the preceding tape contact part in a tape feeding direction while keeping a distance from the tape guide surface so as to enable the carrier tape to pass between the subsequent tape blocking part and the tape guide surface, and to move downwardly toward the preceding carrier tape when the preceding tape contact part is climbed onto the preceding carrier tape. The subsequent tape blocking part keeps the subsequent carrier tape waiting by contacting a front end of the subsequent carrier tape stacked on the preceding carrier tape onto which the preceding tape contact part climbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Kitani, Kazunori Kanai, Kazuo Kido, Seikou Abe, Motohiro Higuchi, Shigeru Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 9578793
    Abstract: A component supplying apparatus comprises an inclined straight path P2 which is for the carrier tape and which extends obliquely upward, a horizontal straight path P3 which is for the carrier tape and which extends in the horizontal direction from a front end of the inclined path P2 and runs through the component supply position Q, a first sprocket wheel engaging with the feed holes of the carrier tape within the inclined path P2, a guide member locating the carrier tape in the width direction within the horizontal path, a top tape removing device disposed above the inclined path P2 between the first sprocket wheel and the horizontal path P3 and partially removing the top tape from the base tape so as to expose the components, and a sprocket wheel drive device rotating the first sprocket wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Kitani, Motohiro Higuchi, Shigeru Matsukawa, Kazuo Kido
  • Patent number: 9415968
    Abstract: A component supplying apparatus has a tape guide part for guiding a carrier tape, a blade for entering between a top tape and a base tape, and a first tape press part for facing the carrier tape on an upstream side of a top tape removing position. A first biasing part biases the first tape press part to have the carrier tape held between the tape guide part and the first tape press part and to attain positioning of the carrier tape in thickness direction thereof. A sprocket wheel wedges the carrier tape between the tape guide part and the first tape press part, and a second biasing part presses the carrier tape against the tape guide part by a second tape press part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motohiro Higuchi, Minoru Kitani
  • Publication number: 20150195963
    Abstract: A component supplying apparatus comprises an inclined straight path P2 which is for the carrier tape and which extends obliquely upward, a horizontal straight path P3 which is for the carrier tape and which extends in the horizontal direction from a front end of the inclined path P2 and runs through the component supply position Q, a first sprocket wheel engaging with the feed holes of the carrier tape within the inclined path P2, a guide member locating the carrier tape in the width direction within the horizontal path, a top tape removing device disposed above the inclined path P2 between the first sprocket wheel and the horizontal path P3 and partially removing the top tape from the base tape so as to expose the components, and a sprocket wheel drive device rotating the first sprocket wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Manangement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kitani, Motohiro Higuchi, Shigeru Matsukawa, Kazuo Kido
  • Publication number: 20150034692
    Abstract: A component supplying apparatus comprises a tape guide surface facing a lower surface of the carrier tape, a preceding tape contact part climbing onto a upper surface of the preceding carrier tape, and a subsequent tape blocking part configured to wait on the upstream side of the preceding tape contact part in a tape feeding direction while keeping a distance from the tape guide surface so as to enable the carrier tape to pass between the subsequent tape blocking part and the tape guide surface, and to move downwardly toward the preceding carrier tape when the preceding tape contact part is climbed onto the preceding carrier tape. The subsequent tape blocking part keeps the subsequent carrier tape waiting by contacting a front end of the subsequent carrier tape stacked on the preceding carrier tape onto which the preceding tape contact part climbs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Minoru KITANI, Kazunori KANAI, Kazuo KIDO, Seikou ABE, Motohiro HIGUCHI, Shigeru MATSUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140367049
    Abstract: A component supplying apparatus has a tape guide part for guiding a carrier tape, a blade for entering between a top tape and a base tape, a first tape press part for facing the carrier tape on upstream side of a top tape removing position, a first biasing part for biasing the first tape press part to have the carrier tape held between the tape guide part and the first tape press part and to attain positioning of the carrier tape in thickness direction thereof, a sprocket wheel for wedging the carrier tape into between the tape guide part and the first tape press part, and a second biasing part for pressing the carrier tape against the tape guide part by a second tape press part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro HIGUCHI, Minoru KITANI
  • Patent number: 8413322
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a component a mounting apparatus capable of accurately determining minute mounting applied pressure. The component mounting head of the component mounting apparatus includes: a movable part having a suction bit section and a movable shaft, a weight compensation mechanism for engaging with the movable shaft to compensate for the gravitational force of the total weight of the movable part and a component suctioned to the suction bit section, on the basis of the total weight; a force determination unit for determining a force applied to the movable part in the vertical direction; and a drive unit for moving the force determination unit in the vertical direction. The control unit of the component mounting apparatus controls the drive unit in such a manner that the determination value of the force determination unit becomes a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro Higuchi, Ryoji Inutsuka
  • Publication number: 20100269330
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a component a mounting apparatus capable of accurately determining minute mounting applied pressure. The component mounting head of the component mounting apparatus includes: a movable part having a suction bit section and a movable shaft, a weight compensation mechanism for engaging with the movable shaft to compensate for the gravitational force of the total weight of the movable part and a component suctioned to the suction bit section, on the basis of the total weight; a force determination unit for determining a force applied to the movable part in the vertical direction; and a drive unit for moving the force determination unit in the vertical direction. The control unit of the component mounting apparatus controls the drive unit in such a manner that the determination value of the force determination unit becomes a target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motohiro Higuchi, Ryoji Inutsuka
  • Patent number: 6675862
    Abstract: A blind apparatus comprises a drum on which a blind is wound, a motor for rotating the drum, an extrusion mechanism having a foldable arm for thrusting the leading end of the blind in a blind spreading direction with a spring force, a one-way clutch for transmitting the rotating force of the motor to the drum when the drum rotates in a blind take-up direction, a stopper for regulating a position of the arm at a spreading end position of the blind, and a circuit for detecting a motor lock current when taking up the blind. A stopping position in the spreading direction of the blind is detected by the position regulation of the arm by the stopper, and a stopping position in the take-up direction of the blind is detected by detecting the motor lock current. Thus, in a simple structure, the cost is reduced, and the operating sound is suppressed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryogo Kobayashi, Motohiro Higuchi, Fusao Takanishi
  • Patent number: 6671946
    Abstract: The component mounting apparatus includes a component delivery unit, a chuck (13) provided on the component delivery unit, a component transfer unit (19) for receiving a component held by the chuck (13), and a head (20) for receiving the component held by the component transfer unit (19). The head (20) includes a main head body (80), a vertically moving mechanism (81) for the main head body (80), insertion nails (68) provided at a bottom portion of the main head body (80), an opening/closing mechanism (82) for the insertion nails (68), and a turning mechanism (83) for moving the insertion nails (68) in forward and backward directions. A cam plate (84) constituting the turning mechanism (83) is mounted detachably on the main head body (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shozo Kadota, Motohiro Higuchi, Manabu Morioka, Masami Fujiyama
  • Publication number: 20020089209
    Abstract: A blind apparatus comprises a drum on which a blind is wound, a motor for rotating the drum, an extrusion mechanism having a foldable arm for thrusting the leading end of the blind in a blind spreading direction with a spring force, a one-way clutch for transmitting the rotating force of the motor to the drum when the drum rotates in a blind take-up direction, a stopper for regulating a position of the arm at a spreading end position of the blind, and a circuit for detecting a motor lock current when taking up the blind. A stopping position in the spreading direction of the blind is detected by the position regulation of the arm by the stopper, and a stopping position in the take-up direction of the blind is detected by detecting the motor lock current. Thus, in a simple structure, the cost is reduced, and the operating sound is suppressed at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryogo Kobayashi, Motohiro Higuchi, Fusao Takanishi
  • Patent number: 4941608
    Abstract: A hot water supplying system is adapted to be connected to hot and cold water sources to mix the hot and cold water for discharging the mixed water. The system comprises a mixing chamber having a mixing valve movable therein to vary the mixing ratio of the hot water to the cold water, and a controller at which an intended water temperature is selected in accordance with a temperature scale provided thereat. The controller is operatively connected to the mixing valve so as to move the same into a proper position of discharging the water at the selected temperature. The mixing valve is given a temperature-responsive characteristic to be capable of self-adjusting its position independently of the controller in such a way as to adjust the water temperature in an open loop control manner at the start of discharging the water. An initial compensation mode is provided in the system to monitor the water temperature and determine a deviation between the monitored temperature and the selected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Shimizu, Yoshikazu Taniguchi, Motohiro Higuchi, Masashi Suzuki